Illinois man arrested for wife's murder 37 years after her dismembered remains were found on bridge

The Illinois bridge where the dismembered remains of Diane Small, 26, were found. (WMAQ)

An Illinois man was arrested for his wife's murder last week — 37 years after her dismembered remains were found on a bridge.

Diane Small went missing in Bradley in 1980, but it took 12 years for authorities to identify her using DNA.

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Thomas Small is facing charges for his wife's 1980 murder. (Coles County Sheriff's Office)

"Nobody knew who it was because there wasn't any head, feet and hands," local resident Judy Whiteside told FoxIllinois.com.

Thomas Small, 70, was taken into custody last week in connection with his wife's death. He confessed to killing her, sources told the Daily Journal.

Charges are pending, the Coles County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

"This is great news, especially for her daughter," retired Bradley Police Chief Steve Coy told the Daily Journal. "She has always wanted to know what happened."

The Smalls' daughter was just 2 when her mother disappeared. Diane Small was 26 when she was killed, and her head was never located, according to Fox News.

At the time of his wife's disappearance, Thomas Small told cops that on occasion she would leave for a few days and later return, according to Fox News. Diane Small's remains were found on Oct. 19, 1980.